An interview is your last shot at getting that job, so it is very important that you are well prepared. Your little mistake can give someone else an upper hand. Here are 20 interview tips that you must not miss.
Generally interviews are stressful situations for a candidate. It’s a race that will affect your career in many ways and people try very hard to take the first place. You should be very careful during an interview and should be able to put on your best show. There are clear dos and don’ts for job seekers and you should follow them religiously while job hunting. Attentive groundwork and cautious planning help you be more confident which can showcase you in good light in the eyes of your prospect employers. Mentioned below are a few interviews that you should not miss out on.
- Research as much as you can about the company.
- Prepare, prepare and over-prepare.
- Be well groomed, please brush your teeth. (You don’t want bad breath or body odour to be the reason you are rejected.)
- Make sure you are early. Not on time!
- Don’t forget to carry a print copy of your resume.
- Turn off your sell phone. (Phones make a vibrating sound, turn them off!)
- Dress for the job you want. (Shoes are noticed more than you think they are.)
- Make use of the good manners with everyone you meet. (Remember you learnt them school!)
- Shake hands firmly. (Avoid the lousy handshake!)
- Be ready to answer questions like “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” and “Why should we hire you?”
- Use appropriate language. (Please don’t use wrong grammar and slangs!)
- Relax and take your time to answer each question. (By time we do not mean 10 minutes before you answer each question.)
- Answer precisely what you are asked. (Don’t beat around the bush or start saying whatever you want to.)
- Use body language that shows interest. Smile, make eye contact, and don’t sit with your arms crossed. (Also avoid shaking your legs and worse scratching your hair.)
- Smile as often as appropriate. (Don’t overdo it and make the recruiter uncomfortable.)
- Show that you are in for a career and not just a job.
- Be ready to talk salary. (But please don’t be the first one to start the talk.)
- Have at least 3 excellent questions prepared for the end. (Not the ones that have answers to them on the website.)
- Say thank you.
- Follow up after a week. (If you don’t get a response after the second follow up, don’t pester them, they don’t want you.)
Interviews are your chance to prove your worth to your prospect employers. Make good use of this opportunity and land your dream job. We hope that these interviews help you through the interview process and also calm your nerves a little.
By Steffi Joseph
